Update for the week Thursday, May 11 - Thursday, May 18, 2017
Happy Mothers' Day!
THIS WEEK AT ST. MARY'S
SUNDAY, 5/14 – Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Church School lesson 24 (last class)
+ Bible Bowl practice session right after church in the Library. (We still need volunteers for the teen team. Contact Violet Robbat at 781-862-4388 or by e-mail at vmkrobbat@yahoo.com)
MONDAY, 5/15 – The Women’s Club will be going out for dinner at the Cheesecake Factory in Chestnut Hill on Monday May 15, at 7:00. All women of the parish are welcome to join us. If you are interested contact Marilyn at 781-729-3033 or Barbara in the church office (secretary@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org or 617-547-1234). It’s always a fun evening!
+ Monday, May 15 is the deadline for high school students to apply for the Francis Maria Scholarships, available through the Archdiocese Scholarship page, www.antiochian.org/scholarships.
WEDNESDAY, 5/17 – The next meeting of the Parish Council is scheduled for Wednesday, May 17, at 7:30 in the church.
THURSDAY, 5/18 – The Bible Study group will meet Thursday, May 18, at 7:00 pm in the church library. We will finish discussing the book, "The Divine Dance" by Richard Rohr. New members are always welcome.
THIS WEEK ELSEWHERE
SATURDAY, 5/13 – The Spring Meeting of the Antiochian Women of the diocese will be held on Saturday May 13, at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Lowell MA. There will be Morning Prayers at 10:00 and the meeting - including election of officers - will begin at 10:30. Lunch will follow.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
NO NEWSLETTER IN JUNE – Because the editor of this newsletter will be out of the country during most of the month of June, the St. Mary e-Newsletter will not be issued on June 8, 15, 22, or 29; publication is scheduled to resume on July 6. Meanwhile, information about St. Mary’s services and events can be found on the church’s website at https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org, and important announcements will be emailed to parishioners by the church’s secretary.
LEBANESE FESTIVAL - Our Lady of the Cedars, Jamaica Plain, invites you to a Lebanese Festival Friday-Sunday, May 26-28. Friday 6:00-11:00pm, Saturday 3:00-11:00pm and Sunday 12:00-6:00pm. Valet parking and offsite parking with free shuttle. Live music, dancing, Lebanese food and much more.
LOBSTER DINNER - St. George West Roxbury invites you to a Lobster Dinner on Friday, June 9, 5:00pm-7:00pm. Two boiled lobsters $25.95, children under 12 (1 lobster), $15.95. Fish dinner will also be available. For reservations call by June 8th to Michel/Evelyn Essa 617-266-0065.
ARCHDIOCESE CONVENTION – The 53rd Biennial Archdiocese Convention, honoring His Grace Bishop ANTOUN, will be held Sunday, July 23 through Sunday, July 30, hosted by St. George Cathedral, Coral Gables, FL. Visit www.AC2017Miami.org for more details.
REMINDERS
NO FASTING – There is no fasting on Wednesday or Friday for the entire forty days from Pascha until the Feast of the Ascension on May 25. This is the decision of the Holy Synod of the Church of Antioch. This cessation of fasting, however, is purely voluntary; you may fast if you wish.
ASCENSION LITURGY – Evening Liturgy for the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord will be Wednesday, May 24 at 6:30pm.
BLESSING OF GRAVES - On Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, Fr. Antony will be blessing graves at Fairview Cemetery in Hyde Park, MA. starting at 9:00 am. If you would like him to bless the graves of loved ones in other cemeteries, please let him know by calling the Church Office at 617-547-1234 or e-mail frawhj@gmail.com
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE – Scholarships from the Antiochian Women are available to females 25 years of age and older in good standing of the Antiochian Archdiocese, actively involved in their parish and who demonstrate need. The application deadline is June 1, 2017. Applications are available in the Church Office. E-mail cindy@nimeys.com with any questions.
+ Nicholas G. Beram 2017 Scholastic Achievement Awards are available for high school seniors of our Arab American Community planning to attend a 4-year college full time. Applications are available online at www.stjohnd.org/ngberam/index.htm . Application deadline is June 1, 2017.
CHANT CLASS, VESPERS, and YOUNG ADULTS – The Chant Class will meet at 3:30 on Saturday, June 3, followed by Great Vespers at 5:00pm, followed by Young Adult Fellowship Night.
CHURCH SCHOOL RECOGNITION and CHINESE LUNCHEON – Please join us on Sunday, June 4, as we close the 2016-2017 Church School year. Church School children will be recognized as they move up to the next grade or graduate. We have two graduating seniors this year, Rebecca Sayeg and Jessica Winstanley.
+ Then please plan to stay for the 2017 Chinese Martyrs Missions Breakfast/Luncheon to benefit the Chinese Translation Project via the Orthodox Fellowship of All Saints of China (OFASC). RSVP to Mitrophan at mitrophan@orthodox.cn by Wednesday, May 31. We look forward to your support of this worthwhile project and seeing you at this event! Suggested minimum donation $8/adult, $16/family (Checks made payable to “St. Mary Orthodox Church-Hospitality” earmarked “Chinese Missions”).
+ Adult volunteers are needed on Saturday, June 3 from 2:00-5:00, to help make dumplings for the luncheon. At the same time children can make dumplings that they will take home to enjoy.
PARENTING WORKSHOP – The Diocese of Worcester and New England invites you to a workshop, “Parenting within Orthodox Families,” on Saturday, June 10 (rescheduled from April 1), 9:00am-3:00pm in the hall at St. George Cathedral, 30 Anna St., Worcester. To register email stgeorgeworc@gmail.com or call 508-752-9150. Cost: $20/person, $30/couple.
POTLUCK PICNIC - Please come join the Hospitality Group for our Annual Potluck Picnic on Sunday, June 11 at DANA PARK (10-20 McTernan St, Cambridge) - the same park as previous picnics! Bring a blanket, some eats or drinks to share, balls, frisbees, even bathing suits if you want splash in the sprinklers! Dana Park is a 5-10 minute walk south of the Church (walk down Magazine St), with an enclosed playground, hoops, water spouts, and a beautiful green. This is a great opportunity to relax and spend time with our church family. OPEN TO ALL AGES!!! For people who need assistance getting to the park, we will coordinate rides. If you would like to help us out, please email Diana Yousef (yousefd@post.harvard.edu
PARISH LIFE CONFERENCE – The 2017 Diocese of Worcester and New England Parish life Conference will be hosted by St. George Cathedral, Worcester. Dates: Saturday, June 17 (Pre-Conference: Creative Arts judging, Women’s meeting and Church School Teachers’ workshop) and Friday-Sunday, June 23-25 (Conference). All events will take place at St. George Orthodox Cathedral. For more information and to register go to https://www.antiochianevents.org/143
+ There will be services at St. Mary’s as usual on Sunday, June 25.
CHURCH SCHOOL TEACHER NEEDED - For Fall 2017 we are in need of a Teacher for 6th grade to work with Deno Takles. And we are always in need of substitutes. Please consider being a teacher and helping with this very important ministry. Contact Barbara Shoop in the Church office if you are interested.
YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY - The Young Adult Ministry is an active, dynamic group that hosts monthly social, spiritual, and outreach events and programs. We have lots of great plans for 2017, and we hope you'll join us! If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Jamil at 617-501-4427 or youngadults@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org.
COFFEE HOUR MADE EASY! - To make sponsoring a Coffee Hour a little bit easier, St. Mary’s offers a delivery service through “Instacart”, for the basic foods necessary to host a Coffee hour. Simply select a date, mail a check to the office and we will order the food and have it delivered to the church on that Sunday between 9:00 and 10:00 am. You will need to be at the church to accept the order and you will be required to set up for the coffee hour and clean up both the kitchen and hall at the end of the coffee hour. Two menus will be offered. Menu one will include: bagels, mini muffins, fruit, hummus/Syrian bread, juice and coffee for $160. Menu two will include: bagels, juice and coffee for $70. Prices DO NOT include a 20% tip for delivery and are subject to change based on current market pricing of items. Cream cheese, peanut butter, jam and coffee creamer are included with each menu. As usual, St. Mary’s will provide the plates, cups, napkins, utensils, serving platters, and sweetener for coffee. If you are interested in taking advantage of this service and signing up for a coffee hour please contact the office at 617-547-1234 or e-mail secretary@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org.